Challenger Center for Space Science Education

“Challenger Center for Space Science Education has a professional employer organization (PEO) arrangement with Insperity.”

“The draft 990 is provided to all board members prior to filing the return.”

“Each director signs a Conflict of Interest form annually. The Conflict of Interest forms are reviewed by the Board Chair and President. Any disclosed or discovered conflict is discussed among Board members while the interested person is absent. If necessary, the interested person may be asked to resign from board service.”

“Compensation of the President and other key employees is set by the Board of Directors, who use comparability data from similar organizations.”

“The governing documents are available upon request, policies, and financial statements are available upon request.”

“Challenger Center's main program is our simulated STEM missions. This program was originally developed in 1986, but has evolved to stay current with technological and education trends over the last 30 years. Today, we deliver this program in more than 40 Challenger Learning Centers around the world, and we are currently piloting a new platform to deliver this program in school classrooms. Our unique and proven teaching model gives students the chance to become scientists, engineers, and other STEM professionals as they solve real-world problems and share in the thrill of discovery through role-playing and simulation. Space-Themed Missions at our Centers: Using space exploration as a theme, our Challenger Learning Centers deliver a truly impactful learning experience to more than 250,000 students each year. Each Challenger Learning Center has a custom-built environment that enables students to suspend reality for a simulated journey to space. This includes a realistic but child-sized spacecraft and mission control. Students are charged with an inspiring mission goal such as to search for life on Mars or to explore the moon. Students experience the mission as a group, but are assigned specific roles, such as geologist, navigator, doctor, or communications director. During the mission, the students work independently, in teams, and as a group. The mission cannot be completed without real teamwork and constant communication. Challenger Learning Center staff simulate emergencies and other events to provide opportunities for creative problem solving. Students leave our missions feeling empowered by their achievements. They will have made real connections between the science they learn in school and exciting STEM career possibilities. They are inspired to engage more with STEM and see new opportunities for their lives. Many Challenger Center alum have gone on to become engineers, scientists, and even STEM educators. EngiLearn - Classroom-based STEM programs (AKA Investing in Innovation (i3)): In 2014, Challenger Center received a $3 million, four-year Investing in Innovation (i3) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. i3 grants are designed to support local educational agencies (LEAs) and nonprofit organizations in providing innovative solutions to common education challenges that can serve as models of best practice. Since receiving this grant, Challenger Center has developed the EngiLearn technology platform that drives the simulation and allows it to be delivered into the classroom. Challenger Center has also created an ocean-themed mission, targeted to 5th grade students, to be delivered via EngiLearn. Similar to the missions delivered in Challenger Learning Centers, this experience deliver a hands-on, interdisciplinary, and standards-aligned program that drives home STEM concepts and gives students the opportunity to practice skills like collaboration, communication, and creative problem solving. In 2016, we finalized the program design and launched a pilot of the program with 2,689 Virginia-based students from a wide range of socio-economic and geographic backgrounds. Our third-party evaluator is currently analyzing data collected during the pilot to determine the program's impact and identify opportunities for refinement. We will utilize this feedback to edit the current mission design and create additional missions for the EngiLearn platform in 2018 and beyond. Ultimately, this project provides the base development for a new program that could extend our reach to millions of students each year. CodeRed: My STEM Mission: At the end of 2015, Challenger Center was awarded a cooperative agreement in collaboration with NASA to engage learners of all ages around the goals of NASA's Science Mission Directorate. The development and execution of CodeRed: My STEM Mission will take place over a five-year period (2016-2020) and include programmatic components that will reach students, teachers and parents in and out of the classroo”

“Program contractors and consultants: Program service expenses 565,531. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 565,531. Payroll and other professional fees: Program service expenses 0. Management and general expenses 18,124. Fundraising expenses 0. Total expenses 18,124. Development contractors : Program service expenses 0. Management and general expenses 0. Fundraising expenses 28,812. Total expenses 28,812.”

“Challenger Center's Audit Finance Committee is responsible for oversight of the audit, including selection of the independent accountant. The process is consistent with previous years.”

“Net reconciliation amount for donated services and use of facilities is $ (65,200). This represents the current year amortization expense of capitalized in-kind website development costs received in 2015.”